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China sends new naval fleet to Gulf of Aden to protect its commercial ships

Locals| 17 December, 2024 - 11:30 AM

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Earlier this week, the People's Republic of China sent a new naval fleet to the Gulf of Aden and Somali waters to protect its commercial ships in light of the ongoing Houthi attacks on international shipping vessels for more than a year.

A new fleet of the Chinese Navy set sail on Sunday from a military port in Zhoushan, eastern China's Zhejiang Province, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

She added that the fleet will take over an escort mission from the previous fleet in the Gulf of Aden and international waters off Somalia.

She pointed out that before departure, the fleet conducted "training exercises that focused mainly on armed rescue operations for hijacked commercial ships, combating terrorism and piracy, as well as the practical use of weapons."

The Chinese agency noted that the 47th naval fleet includes (a guided missile destroyer, a missile frigate, and a supply ship. It carries more than 700 officers and soldiers, two helicopters, and more than 10 members of the special forces).

Earlier this month, China stressed the need for the Houthi militia to stop its attacks in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, which target cargo ships.

"China calls for an immediate halt to attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea to ensure the safety and normal operation of international industrial and supply chains," said China's Chargé d'Affaires to Yemen, Shao Cheng, during an interview with Yemeni TV.

He continued: "China calls for an end to attacks on ships in the Red Sea because these military actions have global implications. China is a major shipping nation and the world's second-largest economy."

The Chinese diplomat stressed the need for the situation in the Red Sea to return to normal as soon as possible to avoid further escalation of the regional situation.

For more than a year, the Iran-backed Houthi militia has been launching drone and missile attacks on cargo ships sailing in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab and the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Yemen, saying it is in support of Gaza, which has been subjected to an Israeli war of extermination since October 7, 2023.

These attacks negatively affected shipping, trade and global supply chains, as many companies resorted to longer routes for safety, and harmed the economies of the Red Sea state.

Source: Yemen Youth Net + Agencies

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